Bag of cash doesn’t stop jurors from convicting 5 of 7 defendants in $40 million food fraud scheme

By MICHAEL GOLDBERG and STEVE KARNOWSKI
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A jury has convicted five Minnesota residents and acquitted two others in a scheme to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to steal more than $40 million from a program meant to feed children. The verdict comes as the FBI investigates an attempt to bribe a juror with a bag of cash totaling $120,000. That juror was dismissed before deliberations began along with another juror who learned of the attempt. These seven people were the first of 70 to stand trial in one of the nation’s largest COVID-19-related fraud cases. Authorities say $250 million was stolen overall, with only $50 million recovered.